On Saturday, January 4, 2025, the bodies of two young men were found in separate locations in Kiambu and Nairobi counties, intensifying public concern over a surge in abductions and unexplained deaths.
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In Kiambu County, residents of Kawaida near Banana discovered the naked body of 27-year-old John Muchiri Muthoni by the roadside. The body was wrapped in a shawl, with his clothes placed a few meters away.
According to Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of human rights group Vocal Africa, Muchiri had been missing since Friday afternoon. His girlfriend reportedly received a call from an unknown number, directing her to find his body by the roadside.
In a separate incident, the body of 26-year-old Ian Singoe was found in Mwiki, Nairobi. Singoe had been missing since December 31, when he was last seen in Mwiki, Kasarani. A close family friend, authorized by the family to speak, confirmed the discovery and indicated that plans are underway to transfer the body to the morgue as police investigations commence.
These incidents contribute to a growing pattern of abductions and unexplained deaths in Kenya. Human Rights Watch has previously reported on security forces abducting and killing protesters, with some abductees’ bodies later found abandoned in rivers, forests, or mortuaries.
The Kenya National Human Rights Commission has investigated numerous cases of extrajudicial killings and abductions, raising serious concerns about the conduct of security forces.
As investigations into the deaths of Muchiri and Singoe continue, human rights organizations and the public are calling for greater accountability and transparency from authorities to address the alarming trend of abductions and unexplained deaths in the country.
By Kenyans